ALPHEO

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The air was crispy and hot, after all they had the desert on their back. And even though now the land was much more greener this did not meant that the climate changed a lot, crispy and hot it was and still is .

Soon the old limping man came back with many young men in tow, carrying sacks of grains and oats, some also carrying urns filled with water. They looked heavy, and the young men struggled a bit as they brought them closer to the group .

Alpheo could see the eyes of the men gazing at his, they knew they were many and armed, if they wanted the entire village on flame, they would do it.

As they neared, the villagers carefully set down their heavy loads on the ground. Alpheo observed them repeating this motion several times until there were four sacks of grain, twelve urns filled with water, and a sack of oats neatly arranged before them.

Alpheo meticulously counted the barter, his mind calculating the value of the goods exchanged for the twenty silveriis. "This is the extent of their offering," he thought, noting that while he could potentially coerce a few more sacks from them using their weapons , it wasn't worth the trouble.There were other villages along the way after all

He nodded to his men, signaling their departure, and motioned for Jarva to accompany him as they approached the old man once more. The tension in the air was palpable as Alpheo turned to Jarva, who translated the old man's words.

"He says he's done his part and asks us to leave as soon as possible," Jarva relayed.

Alpheo offered a small smile. "Tell him we'll be on our way immediately," he instructed. As Jarva conveyed the message, Alpheo reached for his belt, causing the old man to flinch thinking he was taking his steel . However, insted , Alpheo retrieved another pouch of coins and tossed it to the old man.

"Farzah ay tarka ?" the old man asked, his eyes wide with surprise.Alpheo did not need Jarva for this one

"Please inform him that it's payment for another service, a rather small one" Alpheo replied , smiling and leaning in closer. "Tell him that if anyone inquires about our whereabouts, he is to inform them that we passed through, received supplies through threatening , and were sent on our way with women as whores to keep us satisfied. Then, he is to direct them eastward towards the rising sun. Ah'' he chuckled "Almost poetic''

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Jarva hesitated,''What if he try to fuck us in the arse, he got the silver already. Is it worth for them to stick thier head for us?''

Alpheo considered his words before adjusting their approach. "You're right," he conceded. "Tell him that if we encounter anyone asking, we'll tell them we purchased supplies with the gold we stole, and that they hold a considerable amount.So after us they will come to them. We know how greedy soldiers are ,and the shining of gold raise thier excitement better than a whore."

With Jarva's translation, the old man's demeanor shifted, a tremor of fear evident in his nod of agreement. Alpheo nodded in return, satisfied that their message was conveyed effectively.

Alpheo's movements were deliberate and calculated as he gestured for Jarva to follow him back to the group. As they approached, Alpheo reached for a sack filled with oats, motioning for the others to do the same. He knew that leading by example was important, especially when trying to earn the respect and trust of his companions. 'Better not give anyone shit to throw at me ' he thoughtforward as he trudged foward

They continued walking towards their "camp", which consisted of a few scattered tents and supplies taken from their previous location, Alpheo couldn't help but feel a bit of distate, after all this was hardly a camp. There were no walls or ditches surrounding them, no watchtower to keep guard. But time was of the essence, and there was no room for unnecessary precautions. They needed to move quickly and quietly, avoiding any attention or danger that could arise from making too much noise or leaving a trace of their whereabouts. Aalso where was they to take the wood?And how would they build all of that? they had no nails , no axes or saws…

"Hey Alpheo," Clio spoke as he caught sight of the group, his eyes shifting towards the various items they had brought with them. "Seems like the exchange went well," he muttered as he helped Alpheo with the heavy sack.

"It did, but I don't want to linger here," Alpheo replied accepting the help, sweat beading on his forehead from the weight of the bag. "The faster we march out of this hellish land, the sooner we can start moving forward."

Clio furrowed his brow in concern. "You feel trouble arising?"

Alpheo sighed, adjusting the straps of his backpack. "No, but I don't want to risk it. It's better if we don't stay in one place for too long," he commented as he feared for pursuers that would never come

"I agree," Clio nodded "Let's get a move on then by tomorrow ."

Soon the night arrived, the rays of the sun giving way to the darkness of the moon.Around the camps many fire were burning , men in circles letting the flames warm their flesh, while on top of it big pots , filled with grains and water, simmering over open flames were left to boil.

The slaves stirred the contents of the pots with wooden spoons, ensuring that the grains cooked evenly and didn't stick to the bottom. The mixture slowly thickened, transforming into a hearty porridge-like substance.

Meanwhile, others tore pieces of bread they had bought from the village, arranging them on makeshift plates.

To the modern man, such a meal may seem lackluster, but to the ex-slaves who were only given hard bread at their master's whim, the soft bread and porridge spread before them seemed like a banquet fit for the gods. Alpheo, with his small frame and wild hair, tore into his food with the voracity of four men, as if he didn't know when he would get to eat again. His companions followed suit, devouring the meal with gusto while also keeping their sharp claws at the ready in case someone tried to steal it from them.

But even in this moment of indulgence, they couldn't let their guard down, always on edge for fear of losing what little they had. For they did not know when fate would pull her hand from them.